Meet The Need Atlanta

    We are so excited to have a new roof on one of our homes. A wonderful couple donated the shingles and the men got to replace the roof.

One of our board of directors, Robert Smitley came to our aid, and got the men organized and the roofing began. It was a lot of work with a lot of laughs.

As we always like to say, Meet the Need program participants are hard workers and do what ever is necessary to help maintain their individual homes. The work is appreciated but most importantly is the christian fellowship and friendships that develop through these projects.

No matter how long we do this, we are still overwhelmed by God’s blessings to us. Many of our men attend a bi-weekly meeting at 12 Stone Church called The Dug Out Group. God has blessed us with wonderful relationships from that group. It is a time of encouragement and sharing. Recently, one of the men who attened the Dug Out Group went to work and shared with his employer about the work going on at Meet the Need. His employer decided to bless Meet the Need with a large donation.

God’s timing was perfect again. We were behind on the rent for 3 homes. Thank God for landlords who believe in what we do and are supportive. This particular donation was enough to catch up on everything we were behind.

With respect for confidentiality we just say thank you so much…the desire of this donor is for God to get all the glory.

With the recent severe weather, we received many more requests for housing. Although we specialize in relapse prevention, we could not turn away men on the streets in freezing temperatures. We received phone calls from many area co-ops who supply food to those in need. We were able to assist 8 men who were sleeping on the street or in there cars during the severe cold. Most of them did not stay with us but for a week, but we were happy to be obedient to Jesus direction in Matt 25 to take in the homeless.

We do not send out Christmas cards, but wanted to say Happy New Year to everyone. We hope that each of you has a happy and prosperous 2010

Alot of people would look at this tree and say that Santa came. We look at it and say that God used His people to bless the men at Meet the Need. A family that walks along side of the men at Meet the Need came and brought a gift for each and every program participant. We are unable to do this as an organization. Many of our men have not received anything from anyone in years. This is not about the cost of the gift, but about everyone having a gift to open. We must ask ourselves… Who can I be Jesus to today? He came and gave the ultimate gift. Thank you to this very special family for their love and generosity.

Isn’t she beautiful? We are so excited that someone donated an RV to the ministry. A good pressure wash and wax job and she will look like new. We haven’t named her yet. Any suggestions?

Meet the Need is here to restore men’s lives. Some people might look at the inside of this vehicle and say it’s not even worth messing with. Not us and not God. Our number one challenge is to take men who come to us that are broken and think they can never be fixed and cleaned up. They have been so beaten down by their past and the ravages of drugs and alcohol that  many think that this is how it will always be. Not with God. He can restore them to a place that was better than they ever experienced before. It often starts with a hair cut, bath, and new clothes. then God begins His restoration process.

This RV will be a great project for the men here to work with Rene’, “the master upholstery man”. He will take each part of the RV and begin to restore it to look better than it did brand new, just as God does for us. It will be a lot of work, but the end result will be beautiful. We hope  as each man works on this restoration,  God will allow them to see how He desires to take their broken lives and make them beautiful.

Charlie, Jason, Robert, Steve, and George

We are so grateful that men at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church have adopted the men at Meet the Need. On December 15th, they came and served a fabulous Christmas dinner. Turkey, ham, and all the “fixins”. Thank you so much servants of Christ. All the program participants continue to be amazed at how these men support them week after week. We pray that God will bless them 100 fold.

Christmas dinner

Don’t be jealous!!!! Just take note of this spread. As usual they provide abundance so that more meals are served the next day.

MTN has prayed for a box truck for 7 years. A wonderful couple donated one to us recently and it had its’ first trip today to help someone else. Several of the MTN men went to move a couch for a single mom with 6 children. It is more “blessed to give than to receive”. This is just the beginning of helping others. All the program participants at MTN know that part of their training here is to give, give, give. They come here with lots of needs which the Lord takes care of, and they in turn have to give back to others in the ways they can.

We are not sure who is more excited……… MTN or this single mom that was walking to work. the ministry was donated a van several years ago. It needed some work which our men have done. When it was finally road worthy and safe, we received a call from a single mom with a son that was walking to work. She asked if we had anything we could sell her. God gave this to us, and we were not going to sell it to her. We wanted to bless her with it. She picked the van up last week, and now can have transportation for herself and her son We just love passing God’s blessing along.

Jane "Woody" and Rene'

Directors Rene’ and Jane Alvarez recently had the pleasure of blessing a program participant that completed a year with Meet the Need. Thomas “Woody” Woodall  became a house coordinator shortly after he came to Meet the Need. It was quite obvious that he had leadership qualities and has demonstrated at every turn that he was serious about getting his life turned in the right direction, and that he desired to put his past behind him.

It is always the pleasure  of the ministry when we can pass on a blessing. Woody had driven a Ford van that was donated to the ministry for months. He kept it clean, and up to date with service needs  and took it under his wing. His “baby” is now really “his baby”.

God bless you and “Old Blue” Woody. We are proud of you.